Luton Town centre-back Teden Mengi has not been included in the final England U21 squad heading to Slovakia for this summer’s UEFA U21 European Championship.
The 23-year-old, who has made 55 appearances since joining the Hatters in August 2023, had initially been named in a provisional training squad by head coach Lee Carsley. However, he was not selected in the final 23-man list that will travel to Slovakia.
Mengi has earned three caps for England at U21 level but will now watch from afar as the Young Lions aim to defend the title they won in 2023, when a goal from Liverpool’s Curtis Jones sealed a 1-0 victory over Spain in the final.
The Luton man is one of several notable absentees. Forward Liam Delap, who recently moved to Chelsea, misses out as he is expected to represent his new club at the Club World Cup. Sunderland’s Dennis Cirkin, Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton and Spurs striker Dane Scarlett have also been ruled out through injury.
England begin their group campaign against Czechia next Thursday, before facing Slovenia and Germany in the hope of progressing to the knockout rounds.
Manager Lee Carsley, who guided England to the title two years ago and recently signed a new deal to stay in charge until 2027, remains focused on repeating that success.
“I am just trying to do it again (win the Euros). The priority is the Euros and I won’t be taking my eye off of that,” he said. “First and foremost we can definitely improve the way we played at times. We spoke about having control, with the bigger picture of hopefully helping players go onto the senior team. I’ve got the benefit of seeing what potentially that looks like.”
He added: “Hopefully we’ll be good to watch. That’s what you want. You want people back home watching the next generation of England players and being excited by it. From the last group that won the Euros, nine debuts in the senior team. What an incentive to win a tournament and have that progression and have that conveyor belt of players that are able to go through.”
England U21 squad in full:
Goalkeepers:
James Beadle (Brighton), Teddy Sharman-Lowe (Chelsea), Tommy Simkin (Stoke)
Defenders:
Charlie Cresswell (Toulouse), Ronnie Edwards (Southampton), CJ Egan-Riley (Burnley), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Brooke Norton-Cuffy (Genoa), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool)
Midfielders:
Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland), Archie Gray (Tottenham), Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough), Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton), Tyler Morton (Liverpool), Alex Scott (Bournemouth)
Forwards:
Harvey Elliott (Liverpool), Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich), Sam Iling Jnr (Aston Villa), James McAtee (Manchester City), Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal), Jonathan Rowe (Marseille), Jay Stansfield (Birmingham)
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